Generally speaking, has social media made people less intelligent?

Question

WonderBell99 · Accepted Answer

Just a different perspective - but no, I don’t think social media in itself makes anyone stupid. If a person is already dumb to start with, obviously they will be more prone to misinformation and believe whatever someone says without any proof or logical reasoning. I have social media like YouTube, GaG, Twitter etc and I don’t think I’m stupid. If anything, I’ve become more self aware and a tad more knowledgeable in certain fields I wouldn’t have delved into before.

I’m not on TikTok, but I recently read somewhere that people were trying to file their teeth to get the “perfect smile”. It looks very disturbing and far from the perfect smile, or even a “good” one. People with common sense wouldn’t do this to themselves, but dumb people will do anything to get views.

PeanutbutterAnd · Accepted Answer

Yes, this site is evidence of that. If you waste your time replying to a question, you never get a response. This site is 99% social rejects. They wonder why the real world isn't working out for them.

Rosexøxø · Answer

Some things they just wouldn't be able to do "from scratch." Like, many of us wouldn't know how to even begin churning our own butter. Any of those things can be learned. Intelligence is always learned.

Newer generations can learn at any point to churn their own butter, or mail out a letter/ email. The common things they wouldn't have to learn, but if it comes up, and they mess up, they can just fix it for next time.

As long as they're curious/ memorizing/ recalling/ learning social behavior, and building upon what they learn, they'll never become retarded.

Leapfrog00 · Answer

For sure. Some of them are really bad. Tik Tok is the worst I've seen. This publishing school told me to create some social media accounts to build a fanbase, so when I publish one of my novels, people will know of me and my work.

I installed tik tok a while back, and there are so many people that do absolutely nothing! And they have hundreds of followers. Lips sync to songs, a lot of them. I was like WTF? lol. If I want to watch people lip sync, I'll just watch an old Milie Vanilli video!

I said, if these people can get hundreds of followers doing absolutely nothing, I can sure as hell get followers discussing my books and reading some of my stories! lol.

To be honest, I can't stand being around people less intelligent than me anymore. I don't expect people to be as smart as me, but when they speak like a 2 year old and don't even know how to read, I question their upbringing! lol

Sarahr123 · Answer

Yes it definitely has. I don’t have any social media except Snapchat for photo memories and WhatsApp. I don’t use Snapchat for socialising and only have like 6 people on there whom I know well - close friends and a couple of relatives. I am active on WhatsApp but that’s just a texting platform for me where I am able to send photos.

If you count YouTube and GAG as social media then I use those occasionally too. YouTube can be used very productively as there is a lot on there so it depends how it is used. GAG I use to advise people and when I need advice from strangers myself.

I would certainly prefer a husband who doesn’t use social media apps and I hope any children I have won’t be obsessed with social media.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Yes, it has. But that's because people have freedom of choice. Too many people use social media to insult, spread racist nonsense, post gossip, sexist crap, political junk, conspiracy theories, etc.

But without it, I would have never learned how to install, configure, and manage Microsoft Systems Center.

byrdman89 · Answer

I would say yes and I'll give you my two top reasons first people generally only see information opinions etc that they already agree with so they are never challenged or presented with new information or opposing points of view - second most information presented on social media is brief and shallow there is no depth subtlety or nuance

RealMarek · Answer

It has made people behave in stupider ways, which is different from being less intelligent. Intelligence is mostly inherited. Average intelligence has declined over the past several generations due to life becoming easier with modern technology and medicine, which enables a higher reproduction rate among people of lower intelligence. It’s an uncomfortable fact, but it is a fact in any case.

MrWolf · Answer

I wouldn't say less intelligent, but I rather say less understanding and less humans. Problem is they aren't thought the hard way how to deal with life and do think that everything will swing their way. But life ain't like. So I'd say ignorant is the proper word for them.

nolabels · Answer

No. Social media has made the sore truth painfully obvious, though. The idiocy was already there, waiting to be released.

MementoMori777 · Answer

Yea have you not seen the trends that got people hospitalized

ariadneR · Answer

Yes to a certain extent. Things are at our fingertips and on demand. So people don't know what it is to wait, and in turn don't have the patience or I guess capacity to sit still and learn and concentrate

DizzyDesii · Answer

I wouldn't say less intelligent. A lot are more aware, less ignorant and overall seemingly more intelligent. However i think it made people more shallow and fake

Friendlybro79 · Answer

I don't know. It's a good question. I think this of navigation systems/Google maps. I used to have a better sense of direction before I started using it.

Maybe it makes us less likely to think critically. Social media def has hurt people because so many people get their news from it. Unfortunately the most misinformation is spread there so who knows.

jammcm · Answer

There has been a shift from thinking for ones self to letting others think for you. There is so much information, good and bad, true and false, available at ones fingertips today people forget to think. They take it at face value. Not only from social media but all the other news sources.

ShesRad80 · Answer

in a lot of ways yes, because people dont debate on topics or talk it out, they name call then block

LiamJHayden · Answer

I think in some ways. Lots of people seem to have the intention span of a gnat.

Anonymous · Answer

Not directly. But maybe the propagation of stupid people on social media (i. e. Kardashians, Kanye West etc.) has. Because it encourages people to elevate influencers. Where a couple a generations ago we would revere doctors and scientists. You know somebody who potentially added to quality of society.

kellytheman · Answer

Maybe a little I feel a lot kids are not as smart as they should be because of the covid and had do school from cam. I also think social media takes up all of time and decrease mental compacity.

Babygirl_S · Answer

I think social media is good for shy introverts like me. I only use YouTube, Instagram (to stay in touch with my favourite celebrity) and GAG. I've never been interested in Twitter, TikTok etc.

Summeroflove · Answer

In some ways yes…. Absolutely. My Facebook I ain’t been on it in a while. A lot of drama. A lot of people who share All Of their business. A lot of just low IQ stuff

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

I don't know about dumber, certainly delusional though. Men and women. "This is what my life should look like" when they are only watching the good that people post.

sheena30 · Answer

what it has done is stop people from conversing, just go into any cafe and most are on their phones in a world of their own,

BCA6010 · Answer

Indirectly, yes. It has ruined people's ability to focus, which in turn hampers one's ability to learn.

strateguy632 · Answer

i doubt it CAUSED but definitely SHOWED the weaknesses of many people from silly group admins to thoughtless replies.

DarkLegacy · Answer

It has certainly made them lazier and probably less intelligent.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

No, I think it's more likely due to lack of education.

Googlemyahoo · Answer

You’ve all gotten considerably more gullible & stupid with instant gratification of information because you don’t have to actually learn anything you just copy paste

JustMeL120 · Answer

I think YouTube makes people less itiligent. Social media slightly less.

Ms_Facesitter · Answer

In a way yes. Social intelligence? People tend to believe what an influencer says, even if it's wrong. Andrew Tate being one of those people.

najekim · Answer

Yes, and has developed into a herd mentality. No one can, or wants, to think for themselves and take responsibility of their actions.

loveslongnails · Answer

No, it's just made those who were already intelligent much more aware of how many stupid people there really are. :-D

Anonymous · Answer

Absolutely, just this week an exam paper was classed as too hard for kids and even the parents/teachers found it tough, it was easy but social media has caused such generational brain rot in the little amount of time

OddBeMe · Answer

Honestly no. Maybe a bit less emotionally intelligent. But actual intelligence is only rising in young kids. Not as much as say, Europeans, but whatevs.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

Not it me its brought things to my attention that I wouldn't even normally know

exitseven · Answer

Yes, without a doubt. It also isolates people.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I don't think so. It only has given the less intelligent a louder voice.

Kellyyum853 · Answer

@Nikki1989 I certainly think so love them eyes of yours 💋

Mansearching · Answer

Only if someone picks up a landline phone and says, "Call...". Then expects it to work... lol

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

No, you just see them more often

jimmy2 · Answer

I think so try going without one for 2 days Or better look on YouTube the high school girl cheating on her testbwith a phone teacher took her phone away she gassed him

MemeSupreme · Answer

yes it definitely has

RangerBlue22 · Answer

You should of made this into a poll

Anonymous · Answer

hahahaha Not me.

Sparkie460 · Answer

It sure seems like it.

Kelly6 · Answer

yes it has , I don't know how

msc545 · Answer

Probably less educated, but not less intelligent.

sheenagwapa · Answer

social media is convenient to acquire info so nope

FilmGuy93 · Answer

I would say so, yeah.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, I believe it as so.

motownplayer2000 · Answer

Generally speaking. Yes.

douride2 · Answer

It has.

Tomisworthless · Answer

No they already were

Guardian45 · Answer

AB-SO-LUTE-LY!

TheMadLad · Answer

Yes.

slatyb · Answer

No, it hasn't.

eagle1951 · Answer

yeah

Anonymous · Answer

most definitely has

Generally speaking, has social media made people less intelligent?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Would you say that social media has negatively affect people's critical thinking skills?

Generally speaking, has social media made people less intelligent?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Would you say that social media has negatively affect people's critical thinking skills?

We're glad to see you liked this post.